*** this position has been closed, and no new applications will be accepted. ***

The University of Oregon (UO) Historic Preservation Program (HP) invites applications for a full-time tenure-track position as the Art DeMuro Assistant Professor in Historic Preservation, to begin in September 2017. This position will be based in UO’s Portland campus and will provide instruction and student mentoring in this nationally-recognized professional master’s degree program. The successful candidate for this position will demonstrate progress toward a record of relevant and innovative research and professional practice.

University Context:

The University of Oregon is an AAU research university with roughly 25,000 students. The UO Historic Preservation Program resides within the School of Architecture & Allied Arts (A&AA). The school consists of five departments and four programs: the Departments of Architecture; Art (which includes digital arts); History of Art and Architecture; Landscape Architecture; and Planning Public Policy and Management; and the Programs in Arts and Administration, Historic Preservation, Interior Architecture, and Product Design.

The UO Historic Preservation Program, which works collaboratively within the interdisciplinary context of A&AA, stresses building technology, cultural resource management, building documentation, and sociocultural analysis as part of a rigorous research agenda. The UO Historic Preservation Program emphasizes (a) experiential learning – the hands-on experience of doing preservation in the field, and (b) innovative research in the cultural, technological, and environmental factors that shape the built environment. Courses are augmented by fieldwork in the urban, suburban, and rural areas of the region, with frequent involvement with the area’s professionals, officials, and agencies concerned with historic resources.

With the support of a major individual gift, the HP Program recently relocated from the University’s main campus in Eugene to its new headquarters in the 1883 cast iron front White Stag Building in the Old Town district of Portland. The Program joins other School of Architecture & Allied Arts activities in Portland, including architecture and product design. The new facility houses spaces and state-of-the-art facilities – library, classrooms, studios, offices, conference facilities, and woodshop/lab – that will elevate the educational experience for the Historic Preservation Program. The city of Portland offers HP faculty and students a vast laboratory of physical and cultural landmarks, a strong network of professional practitioners, and significant resources for research, including the Oregon Historical Society archives and the Architectural Heritage Center’s collection of historic building components.

For more information about the Program, please refer to http://hp.uoregon.edu.

Position:

The Program particularly seeks candidates with specialized strengths and teaching experience in any or all of these areas:

1. Cultural Resource Management: Includes instruction in the planning and management of historic resources. Courses will explore methods of surveying and documenting sites; domestic and/or international regulatory processes that govern preservation practice; and political and legal frameworks for preservation planning.
2. Building Sciences: Includes instruction in evaluation and treatment of historic structures. Courses encompass building condition assessment and material pathology (wood, masonry, metal, etc.); conservation methods; building recordation (i.e., HABS/HAER); and the history of construction.
3. Heritage Conservation: Includes instruction in the identification and conservation of both tangible and non-tangible representations of cultural value, particularly among minority groups within a larger cultural framework (such as race/ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, etc.). Courses will explore cultural values in different contexts and explore various means of protecting and interpreting varied cultural practices.

Additional considerations for this position include the following:

- The successful candidate will demonstrate an understanding of the role of preservation in addressing issues of cultural diversity and will have an interest in broadening the field to incorporate underrepresented constituencies. A record of research and teaching that considers the heritage of minority cultures is desirable.
- Preference will be given to candidates who can offer courses in the history of American architecture and culture.
- Preference will also be given for candidates who possess the skills and interests necessary to oversee the Pacific Northwest Field School. The Field School is a summer field experience aimed at students and professionals in fields related to historic preservation with little experience in building conservation. A successful candidate selected to oversee the Field School would be expected to teach only 4 courses during the academic year. More information on the Field School is available at: https://hp.uoregon.edu/pnwfs.

The University of Oregon is organized into three terms during the academic year in addition to summer programs and the expected annual teaching load for this position is 5 courses.

Qualifications:

A terminal graduate degree from an accredited institution must be attained before September 15, 2017 (doctoral degree or master’s degree as expected in the candidate’s academic field), preferably in historic preservation or a closely related field. A demonstrated commitment to building a scholarly profile in historic preservation is required. Accordingly, the candidate should demonstrate a deep commitment to intellectual inquiry in teaching activities, in scholarly research and publication, and in professional practice. Applicants should demonstrate evidence of university-level teaching excellence.

A strong regional interest in the West or Pacific Northwest is desirable, as is significant scholarly interest in vernacular architecture, cultural landscapes, urban historic buildings, historic building technology, cultural heritage studies in historic preservation, or another specialization closely related to the field.

The successful candidate will possess excellent communication and collaboration skills and the ability to establish, maintain, and grow relationships with preservation professionals and stakeholders in the community. The UO is committed to creating a more inclusive and diverse institution and seeks candidates with demonstrated potential to contribute positively to its diverse community. The successful candidate will have the ability to work effectively with faculty, staff, students, and local communities of diverse backgrounds.

Responsibilities:

Maintain an active research agenda related to professional practice. Teach graduate and undergraduate courses in the field of historic preservation, direct master’s theses and projects, and provide academic and career advising to students seeking a degree in Historic Preservation. Support the Director and other faculty in enhancing the curriculum of the Historic Preservation Program, plan and participate in activities outside of the classroom, and forge alliances and productive partnerships with units across the University, academic institutions in Portland, and the professional field of historic preservation –- in the Pacific Northwest, nationally, and internationally. Committee service to the program, school, and University is expected.

Salary:

Commensurate with qualifications. The University of Oregon offers an excellent benefits package.

Application Procedures:

Please submit (upload) only the following; additional items will not be considered in the first review of applications.

1. A letter of application explaining your interest in this position and addresses your specific qualifications. Please include a discussion of your approach to field training and related activities, if appropriate.
2. Your comprehensive curriculum vitae.
3. A one-page statement of your scholarly approach to historic preservation.
4. A one-page statement of your teaching philosophy and approach toward mentoring students.
5. A copy of one article-length, peer-reviewed submittal in the historic preservation field or a related professional field addressing historic resources. You may substitute a portfolio item of an applied preservation project (e.g., National Register nomination, HABS drawing, or professional report) for this submittal.
6. The names and contact information for three referees. Referees will not be contacted unless the applicant advances forward to the semifinal round of review.

The position will be open until filled. Review of applications will begin in January 2017. Semi-finalists will be interviewed by telephone or Skype. Semi-finalists and finalists may be asked to submit additional information, such as additional publications, course syllabi, and evidence of academic program leadership. Finalists will be interviewed on campus in winter term 2017.

The University of Oregon is an equal opportunity, affirmative-action institution committed to cultural diversity and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The University encourages all qualified individuals to apply, and does not discriminate on the basis of any protected status, including veteran and disability status.